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Bill

S 794

Establishes a native plant and seed supply, development and enhancement program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rachel May

Requires an 18-month audit of federal spectrum use by NTIA Assistant Secretary, with a public unclassified report detailing bands, usage, location, sharing, and unused portions.

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Bill Summary · S 794

Summary of S. 794 — Audit of Federal Spectrum by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information

Overview

S. 794 would require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to audit the electromagnetic spectrum assigned or allocated to Federal entities and to report the findings to Congress within 18 months of enactment. The bill emphasizes transparency of spectrum usage, allocation, and availability, and directs coordination with the Department of Transportation to avoid duplicating an existing Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act audit.

Key Provisions

  • Definitions

    • “Assistant Secretary” means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.
    • “Federal entity” has the meaning given in section 113(l) of the NTIA Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 923(l)).

  • Audit Requirement (timing)

    • Not later than 18 months after enactment, the Assistant Secretary, in consultation with the heads of each Federal entity, shall conduct an audit of the spectrum allocated to each Federal entity as of the audit date.

  • Reporting to Congress

    • The Assistant Secretary must submit a report to Congress and make it available to each Member of Congress upon request, detailing the audit results.

  • Content of the Report

    • For each spectrum band assigned or allocated to a Federal entity:
    • (1) Identify the specific band.
    • (2) Describe the purpose for which the band is used and how much of the band is used for that purpose.
    • (3) State the geographic area (e.g., state) where the band is allocated for use.
    • (4) Indicate whether the band is used exclusively by the Federal entity or shared with another Federal entity or a non-Federal entity.
    • (5) Identify any portion of the spectrum that is not being used by the Federal entity.

  • Report Format

    • The report must be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

  • Coordination with DOT

    • The Assistant Secretary must coordinate with the Secretary of Transportation to ensure the audit does not duplicate the audit conducted under Section 27003 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

Timing and Procedural Details

  • Status and Actions: Introduced in the Senate on February 27, 2025; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  • Sponsor: Mike Lee (primary).
  • Relationship to Other Legislation: Includes explicit coordination to avoid duplicating IIJA-related audits.

Who is Affected

  • Federal Entities: Any entity that holds or is allocated spectrum, as defined by the NTIA framework, would be subject to the audit and reporting requirements.
  • NTIA/Assistant Secretary: Responsible for conducting the audit, coordinating with other agencies (including DOT), and compiling the report.
  • Congress and Members of Congress: Recipients of the audit findings and future transparency on spectrum usage.

Potential Impact

  • Increased transparency around federal spectrum allocation and utilization.
  • A snapshot assessment of which spectrum bands are active, for what purposes, and where, including portions that may be unutilized.
  • Possible groundwork for future spectrum optimization, sharing arrangements, or reallocation decisions, pending legislative and administrative steps.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize particular sections or compare it to related spectrum-oversight measures.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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